Fuel tank valve apparatus

ABSTRACT

A fuel tank valve apparatus for use with a fuel tank. The fuel tank apparatus has an inlet neck defining a valve chamber, a valve housing positioned in the valve chamber, a valve positioned to move within the valve housing to regulate flow of liquid fuel into the fuel tank, and a retainer. The inlet neck is attachable to the fuel tank. The valve housing is retained in the inlet neck for communicating with the fuel tank. Connecting the inlet neck to the fuel tank maintains the integrity of the tank and inlet neck material.

CROSS-REFERENCE

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application Serial No. 60/191,658, filed Mar. 23, 2000, andunder 35 U.S.C. 120 to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/728,256, filed Dec. 1, 2000 which are expressly incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a fuel system, and particularlyto a fuel tank within the fuel system. More particularly, this inventionrelates to an inlet check valve and a method of installing such a valvewithin an inlet neck of the fuel tank.

[0003] In an automobile fuel system, a fuel tank is typically filled viaa filler neck into which a fuel-dispensing nozzle is inserted. The fueltank may be molded to include an inlet neck which is connected to thefiller neck by way of a jumper hose. The molded tank is formed of asuitable plastic material. It is desirable to include an inlet checkvalve within the inlet neck of the fuel tank to prevent liquid fuel fromescaping back up through the inlet neck and jumper hose to the fillerneck. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,828. In the interest ofcontaining fuel vapor and hydrocarbons, such molded tanks may beconstructed with a permeation or penetration barrier to preventhydrocarbons from the fuel from escaping to the atmosphere through thetank material.

[0004] Typically, a valve is placed in the inlet neck at the time ofassembly of the fuel storage system including the fuel tank. At the timethe fuel tank is installed in the automobile, the jumper hose isinstalled to connect the fuel tank to the filler neck. In this way, thevalve placed within the inlet neck is prevented from backing out of theinlet neck by the connection of the jumper hose to the inlet neck of thefuel tank.

[0005] According to the present invention, a fuel tank valve apparatusincludes a fuel tank having an inlet neck defining a valve chamber, avalve housing positioned in the valve chamber, a valve positioned tomove within the valve housing to regulate flow of liquid fuel into thefuel tank, and a retainer. The retainer serves to couple the valvehousing to the inlet neck for retaining the valve housing in the inletneck and maintaining the integrity of the tank and inlet neck material.

[0006] In preferred embodiments, the retainer comprises a collar havinga flange weldable to an annular rim of the inlet neck. The collar isconnected to the valve housing to create an insert cartridge. An insertcartridge is formed by inserting a shaft of the valve housing into thecollar before the collar has completely cured subsequent to beingmolded. In this way, the collar cools and cures around the shaft of thevalve housing forming a secure connection there between to create theinsert cartridge. The insert cartridge is then placed within a valvechamber of the inlet neck and secured therein by welding the weldableflange of the collar to the annular rim of the inlet neck.

[0007] Additional features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the followingdetailed description and preferred embodiments exemplifying the bestmode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanyingfigures in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, with portions cut away, of avehicle fuel tank showing an inlet neck integrally molded to theexterior wall of the fuel tank;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a magnified perspective view of the inlet neck of FIG.1, the inlet neck having an inner end, an outer end, and an annular rim;

[0011]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a valve housing and aretaining collar prior to being mounted in a fuel tank inlet neck asshown in FIG. 4;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a sectional view, with portions cut away, of the valvehousing and retaining collar of FIG. 3 inserted within the inlet neck ofFIG. 2 to illustrate a first embodiment of a fuel tank valve apparatusin accordance with the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a valve housing andsealing ring prior to being mounted in a fuel tank inlet neck as shownin FIG. 6, the valve housing having a series of retaining barbs coupledto it;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a sectional view, with portions cut away, of the valvehousing and sealing ring of FIG. 5 retained within the inlet neck of thefuel tank by way of the barbs of FIG. 5 to illustrate a secondembodiment of a fuel tank valve apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention;

[0015]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a valve housing, anO-ring, a toothed washer, and a sealing cap prior to being mounted in afuel tank inlet neck as shown in FIG. 8;

[0016]FIG. 8 is a sectional view, with portions cut away, of the valvehousing and O-ring of FIG. 7 retained within the inlet neck of the fueltank by the toothed washer of FIG. 7 to illustrate a third embodiment ofa fuel tank valve apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a valve housing moldedto include a sealing lip and a retaining barb prior to being mounted ina fuel tank inlet as shown in FIG. 10 and an O-ring;

[0018]FIG. 10 is a sectional view with portions cut away of the valvehousing molded to include a sealing lip of FIG. 9 inserted within afiller neck which is molded to include a hose-retaining barb toillustrate a fourth embodiment of a fuel tank valve apparatus inaccordance with the present invention; and

[0019]FIG. 11 is a sectional view with portions cut away of a valvehousing molded to include a sealing lip and retention ribs retainedwithin an inlet neck which is welded to the surface of a neckless fueltank to illustrate a fifth embodiment of a fuel tank valve apparatus inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel tank 10 includes an outer wall 16which defines an interior fuel storage region 14. Fuel tank 10 may bemolded to include an inlet neck 12. In this case, inlet neck 12 istypically molded as an integral part of fuel tank 10. However, fuel tank10 may be formed without an integral inlet neck 12, as shown in FIG. 11.Referring back to FIG. 1, the entire fuel tank 10, including inlet neck12, may be constructed, using known techniques, of a multi-layer plasticmaterial which prevents permeation of liquid and vapor fuel therethrough. As such, a permeation or penetration barrier 13 layer ofmaterial may be provided. Barrier 13 prevents hydrocarbons from the fuelfrom escaping through the walls of the tank. Barrier 13 may bepositioned along an inside surface, an outside surface or sandwichedbetween inner and outer layers of the tank 10. As shown in FIG. 2, inletneck 12 has an inner end 18 which abuts outer wall 16 and an outer end20. Inlet neck 12 further includes an outer annular rim 22 defining aninlet opening 26 and an inner annular rim 27 defining an outlet opening28. An inner wall 34 of the inlet neck 12 defines a valve chamber 24therein.

[0021] Various embodiments of a fuel tank valve apparatus in accordancewith the present invention are shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 8, 10 and 11. In thevarious embodiments like elements use the same reference numbers orvariations of the same reference number using an alphabetic suffix. Ineach case, a retainer 29 serves to couple a valve housing 30 withininlet neck 12 with a value 32 retained within the valve housing 30.Further, each embodiment couples valve housing 30 to tank 10 withoutbreaching or cutting through barrier 13 and thus maintaining acontinuous uninterrupted barrier against hydrocarbon emissions. Bymaintaining the integrity of barrier 13 the possibility of hydrocarbonescape is further reduced.

[0022] In the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, theretainer 29 a is in the form of at least on and preferably a pluralityretaining collar 36 which surrounds a shaft 40 of the valve housing 30and includes a weldable flange 38 suitable for welding to an annular rim22 of the inlet neck 12.

[0023] In a second embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, theretainer 29 a is in the form of retaining barbs 52 which are coupleddirectly to the valve housing 30 a and prevent the valve housing 30 afrom backing out of the inlet neck 12 a once the valve housing 30 a isinstalled within the inlet neck 12 a.

[0024] In a third embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, theretainer 29 b is in the form of a toothed washer 70 which abuts againsta circumferential rib 84 coupled to the valve housing 30 b. The toothedwasher 70 includes teeth 74 which engage or dig into the interior wall34 of the inlet neck 12 b to prevent the valve housing 30 b fromdisengaging or backing out of the inlet neck 12 b once the valve housing30 b is installed within the inlet neck 12 b.

[0025] In a fourth embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, theretainer 29 c is in the form of a retaining barb 106 molded as part ofthe valve housing 30 c which fits within cooperatively formed recess 114in the inlet neck 12 c to prevent the valve housing 30 c fromdisengaging or backing out of the inlet neck 12 c once the inlet neck 12c cools and conforms around the valve housing 30 c.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, fuel tank valve apparatus 15 includesa retaining collar 36 having a weld flange 38. As shown in FIG. 3, avalve housing 30 includes a shaft 40 having one or more ribs 44 thereon.The shaft 40 is inserted within a shaft-receiving chamber 42 of collar36. Ribbed shaft 40 is sized to tightly fit within shaft receivingchamber 42 of collar 36. Collar 36 will typically be constructed of HDPEplastic or some other material suitable for welding to fuel tank 10.HDPE plastic, or other suitable materials for welding to fuel tank 10,are typically shaped through a molding process. After molding collar 36out of HDPE plastic, and before it has time to completely cure, ribbedshaft 40 of valve housing 30 is forced into shaft-receiving chamber 42of collar 36. In this way, collar 36 cools, cures, and forms aroundribbed shaft 40 so that ribs 44 of ribbed shaft 40 engage an internalsurface 43 of collar 36 to hold the collar 36 in engagement with valvehousing 30. It is within the scope of this disclosure that other methodssuch as overmolding of collar 36 on ribbed shaft 40 may be used tocouple collar 36 to valve housing 30.

[0027] After valve housing 30 and collar 36 have been coupled asdescribed above, a resulting valve assembly insert cartridge 46 ispositioned into or dropped down into valve chamber 24 of inlet neck 12.With cartridge 46 inserted into valve chamber 24, a bottom surface 48 ofweld flange 38 abuts annular rim 22 of inlet neck 12. Once inserted,cartridge 46 is secured to inlet neck 12 by a weld 50 between bottomsurface 48 and annular rim 22 of inlet neck 12. In this way, inlet checkvalve 32, included within valve housing 30 is secured within inlet neck12 of fuel tank 10 via retainer collar 36. A typical inlet check valveis disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,029 issued May 2, 2000 and assignedto the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference. Weld 50 serves as a positiveconnection between valve housing 30 and inlet neck 12 and seals all ofthe layers, including barrier 13 layer, of the tank material. Weld 50 isthen further sealed when a jumper hose (not shown) is later engaged orclamped over an external surface 49 of inlet neck 12 during insertion offuel tank 10 into an automobile (not shown).

[0028] Another fuel tank valve apparatus 17 in accordance with thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As shown in FIG. 5, theretainer 29 a in the form of one or more outwardly extending projectionsillustrated as a series of retaining barbs 52 are coupled to a valvehousing 30 a to form an insert cartridge 46 a. The barbs 52 may be inthe form of discrete barbs or annular rings which provide the necessaryengagement with the inside surface of the neck 12 a. An outsidedimension 53 of the projections 52 being greater than an interiordimension 55 of the inlet neck 12 a to create an interference fit. Inthis embodiment, valve housing 30 a, itself, includes a flange 60.Insert cartridge 56 is inserted into valve chamber 24 of inlet neck 12 aand is retained therein by retaining barbs 52. Retaining barbs 52 diginto inner wall 34 of inlet neck 12 a, thereby preventing insertcartridge 46 a from being backed out of inlet neck 12 a. With insertcartridge 46 a inserted into inlet neck 12 a, flange 60 limits theinward range of travel of the cartridge 46 a into the valve chamber 24and prevents liquid fuel within interior fuel storage region 14 of fueltank 10 from escaping between valve housing 30 a and inner wall 34, pastretaining barbs 52, and out of inlet neck 12 a. However, additionalsealing may be achieved by the inclusion of a sealing ring 58 betweenflange 60 and annular rim 22.

[0029] Yet another fuel tank valve apparatus 19 in accordance with thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown in FIG. 7, a valvehousing 30 b includes a shaft 82 having a plurality of spacers 66 and awasher rib 84. To secure valve housing 30 b within inlet neck 12, theretainer 29 b in the form of a toothed washer 70 used. Toothed washer 70is positioned or slipped over shaft 82 and abuts washer rib 84. Then, asealing cap 72 is welded to an annular edge 76 to form an insertcartridge 64 and capturing toothed washer 70 between washer rib 84 andsealing cap 72.

[0030] An entire insert cartridge 46 b is then inserted within valvechamber 24 of inlet neck 12 until a bottom surface 78 of a cap flange 80abuts annular rim 72 of inlet neck 12 b. This prevents valve housing 30b from slipping out of valve chamber 24 and down the interior fuelstorage region 14. Teeth 74 of toothed washer 70 are canted upwardtoward an inlet opening 26 of inlet neck 12 b so that they “slide” alonginner wall 34 without “catching.” However, any one or more of teeth 74of toothed washer 70 dig into inner wall 34 of inlet neck 12 b, andserve to retain valve housing 30 b within valve chamber 24 of inlet neck12, out of inlet neck 12 if it is attempted to back valve housing 30 b.In this way, valve housing 30 b is held within valve chamber 24 throughthe cooperation of both toothed washer 70 and cap flange 80. Sealing cap72 further serves to provide a physical barrier to prevent fuel fromescaping out of interior fuel storage region 14 and through inlet neck12 b. However, additional sealing may be achieved by the inclusion of anO-ring 68 positioned by sequential spacers 66 between valve housing 30 band inner wall 34 of inlet neck 12 b.

[0031] Still another fuel tank apparatus 100 in accordance with thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. As shown in FIG. 9, avalve housing 30 c includes a shaft 104 molded to integrally include aretainer 29 c in the form of a retaining barb 106 and a sealing lip 108.As shown in FIG. 10, an inlet neck 12 c is formed as an integral part offuel tank 10 and is molded to include a hose-retaining barb 112. Whentank 10 is blow molded to include hose-retaining barb 112 as part ofinlet neck 12 c, a recess 114 is necessarily formed oppositehose-retaining barb 112.

[0032] Valve housing 30 c is secured within inlet neck 12 c by insertingvalve housing 30 c within inlet neck 12 c before inlet neck 12 c hascompletely cooled and cured after molding. In this way, inlet neck 12 ccools and shrinks around shaft 104 of valve housing 30 c and retainingbarb 106 is captured within recess 114 to secure valve housing 30 cwithin inlet neck 12 c. The interface between retaining barb 106 andrecess 114 provides secure engagement while maintaining the unbrokenintegrity of continuous barrier layer 13. With valve housing 30 c thussecured within inlet neck 12 c, sealing lip 108 completely covers andoverlaps an end 116 of inlet neck 12 c. Once valve housing 30 c issecured within inlet neck 12 c, a jumper hose 118 is slipped oversealing lip 108 of valve housing 30 c and inlet neck 12 c, and clampedin place using a hose clamp 120. With this configuration, an outercircumferential edge 122 of sealing lip 108 contacts jumper hose 118 toform a fuel and hydrocarbon impermeable seal there between. At the sametime, hose-retaining barb 112 provides retention and a secondary sealalong with hose clamp 120 to prevent jumper hose 118 from slipping offof inlet neck 12 c and fuel and hydrocarbons from leaking from theassembly. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not intendedto be limited to the specific size and proportional relationship betweensealing lip 108 and barb 112 as shown FIG. 10. Rather, sealing lip 108may have a diameter which is larger, smaller or equal to the diameter ofbarb 112.

[0033] It will be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art thatinlet neck 12 c may be molded to omit hose-retaining barb 112 and moldedwith generally straight walls so that both the hose-retention andfuel-sealing functions are achieved by sealing lip 108 of valve housing30 c. Valve housing 30 c is typically constructed of a material which isfuel and hydrocarbon impenetrable or impermeable. The outer layer of amulti-layer fuel tank, such as fuel tank 10, is typically constructed ofHDPE and while it is fuel impermeable, it is generally not hydrocarbonimpenetrable and does not alone stop hydrocarbon emissions frompenetrating or permeating the material. Therefore, sealing lip 108 ofvalve housing 30 c overlaps end 116 of inlet neck 12 c and directcontacts jumper hose 118 to provide a fuel-impenetrable seal. It will bereadily understood to one of ordinary skill in the art that such a fueland hydrocarbon impenetrable sealing lip formed as an integral part of avalve housing may be utilized in any one of the earlier referencedembodiments suggested by FIGS. 1-8.

[0034] In each embodiment described above, an inlet check valve 32 ispositively secured within the inlet neck 12 (generally) of the fuel tank10 prior to a jumper hose being connected to the inlet neck at the timethe fuel tank is installed within an automobile. As discussed above, theembodiments also show that retainer 29 (generally) engages the inletneck without breaking permeability barrier 13. Further, in FIGS. 1-8,the inlet check valve is included within the overall fuel deliverysystem with the only possible point of fuel leakage or interruption ofpermeation barrier 13 located at the inlet opening of the inlet neck—alocation which is, at any rate, enveloped by the jumper hose clampedover the inlet neck to provide a connection between the inlet neck andthe filler neck at the time the fuel tank is installed within thevehicle. In addition, as depicted in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9,10 and 11, a sealing lip or barb which overlaps the inlet opening of theinlet neck may be utilized, so that even the inlet opening (whilenevertheless enveloped by the jumper hose) does not create a possiblepoint of fuel leakage.

[0035] An additional fuel tank apparatus 200 in accordance with thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 11. In this embodiment, a valvehousing 204 is captured within an overmolded inlet neck 12 d which issubsequently welded to a fuel tank 214 at weld 208. Valve housing 204 issecured within inlet neck 12 d by retainer 29 d in the form of one ormore outwardly extending projections shown as ribs 202 formed as anintegral part of valve housing 204 and over which are overmolded theinlet neck 12 d. Inlet neck 12 d is typically constructed of a materialweldable to fuel tank 214 so that a secure coupling can be made at weld208. Inlet neck 12 d is further formed to include a hose retaining barb212 which serves to secure a jumper hose (not shown) over inlet neck 12d in a manner similar to that depicted in FIG. 10. Similarly, valvehousing 204 is molded to include a sealing lip 206 as an integral partthereof to provide a contact point against the inside surface of ajumper hose (not shown), similar to that depicted in FIG. 10. Again, itwill be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art thatinlet neck 12 d may be formed to exclude hose retaining barb 212 sothat, with a jumper hose fitted over inlet neck 12 d, sealing lip 206would serve both a hose-retaining and a fuel-sealing function.

[0036] It should be noted that the present invention also contemplates anon-permeable fuel tank attachment in the form of inlet neck 12 d. Thefuel tank attachment need not necessarily include valve housing 204 andvalve which could be located at another position in the pathcommunicating with the inlet neck and tank. Inlet neck 12 d is typicallyconstructed of a material weldable to fuel tank 214 so that a securecoupling can be made at weld 208 that is not permeable to hydrocarbonemissions. The inlet neck facilitates coupling of a hose to the tankwithout breaching or cutting through barrier 13 and thus maintaining acontinuous uninterrupted barrier against hydrocarbon emissions. Bymaintaining the integrity of barrier 13 the possibility of hydrocarbonescape is further reduced.

[0037] Inlet neck 12 d is further formed to include a hose retainingbarb 212 which serves to secure a jumper hose (not shown) over inletneck 12 d in a manner similar to that depicted in FIG. 10. Again, itwill be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art thatinlet neck 12 d may be formed to exclude hose retaining barb 212 sothat, with a jumper hose fitted over inlet neck 12 d, sealing lip 206would serve both a hose-retaining and a fuel-sealing function.

[0038] The present invention also includes the method of installingvalve housing 30 (generally) in said inlet neck 12 (generally). Withreference to the figures, the valve housing is provided with a retainerto couple the valve housing with the inlet neck. The valve housing isprovided with the valve 32 retained therein. The retainer 29 (generally)is formed on or attached to the valve housing as shown in theillustrations and described hereinabove. The valve housing is theninserted into the valve chamber of the inlet neck with the retainerengaging the inlet neck, without breaching barrier 13, so as to positionthe valve 32 retained within the housing 30 (generally) in communicationwith the tank and maintain the integrity of barrier 13.

[0039] Although the invention has been described in detail withreference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modificationsexist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described anddefined in the following claims.

1. A fuel tank valve apparatus comprising: a fuel tank including a walland an inlet neck extending from said wall, said inlet neck having aninner end appended to said wall and an outer end arranged to define arim, said inlet neck defining a valve chamber having an inlet openingdefined by said rim and an outlet opening communicating with theinterior volume of said fuel tank; a valve housing positioned at leastpartially in said valve chamber; a valve positioned in said valvehousing to regulate flow of liquid fuel into said fuel tank through afiller neck coupled to said inlet neck; and a retainer coupled to saidvalve housing and arranged to engage said inlet neck to retain saidvalve housing in a fixed position in said valve chamber so that saidvalve housing is retained proximate to said fuel tank.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1 , wherein said retainer includes an outwardly extendingprojection coupled to said housing and engaged with said inlet neck. 3.The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said inlet neck is overmolded oversaid retainer.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said retainerincludes at least one annular, radially outwardly extending lip coupledto said housing and attached to said inlet neck.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 4 , wherein said retainer includes multiple axially spaced apart,annular, radially outwardly extending lips coupled to said housing andattached to said inlet neck.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein saidretainer includes a sealing lip formed to contact a jumper hose placedover said inlet neck.
 7. A fuel tank valve apparatus for installation ona fuel tank, said fuel tank valve apparatus comprising: an inlet neckdefining a valve chamber having an inlet opening defined by an open endof said inlet neck, said inlet neck being attachable to said fuel tank;a valve housing formed for at least partially being disposed in saidvalve chamber; a valve retained in communication with said valvehousing; and a retainer for coupling said valve housing with said inletneck to retain said valve housing in a fixed position in said valvechamber to position said valve relative to said fuel tank.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 7 , wherein said retainer includes an outwardlyextending projection coupled to said housing and engaged with said inletneck.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said inlet neck is overmoldedover said outwardly extending projection.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 ,wherein said retainer includes at least one annular, radially outwardlyextending lip coupled to said housing and attached to said inlet neck.11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said retainer includes multipleaxially spaced apart, annular, radially outwardly extending lips coupledto said housing and attached to said inlet neck.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 7 , wherein said retainer includes a sealing lip formed to contacta jumper hose placed over said inlet neck.
 13. A non-permeable fuel tankattachment for installation on a fuel tank, said non-permeable fuel tankattachment comprising: an inlet neck defining a chamber having an inletopening defined by an open end of said inlet neck, said inlet neck beingattachable to said fuel tank, said inlet neck being formed of a materialcompatible for attachment to said fuel tank and providing anon-permeable connection and barrier to prevent the escape of from saidfuel tank.
 14. A non-permeable fuel tank attachment of claim 13 , saidnon-permeable fuel tank attachment further comprising: a valve housingformed for at least partially being disposed in said valve chamber. 15.A non-permeable fuel tank attachment of claim 14 , said non-permeablefuel tank attachment further comprising: a valve retained incommunication with said valve housing; and a retainer for coupling saidvalve housing with said inlet neck to retain said valve housing in afixed position in said valve chamber to position said valve relative tosaid fuel tank.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said retainerincludes an outwardly extending projection coupled to said housing andengaged with said inlet neck.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 , whereinsaid inlet neck is overmolded over said outwardly extending projection.18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said retainer includes at leastone annular, radially outwardly extending lip coupled to said housingand attached to said inlet neck.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 , whereinsaid retainer includes multiple axially spaced apart, annular, radiallyoutwardly extending lips coupled to said housing and attached to saidinlet neck.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said retainerincludes a sealing lip formed to contact a jumper hose placed over saidinlet neck.
 21. A method of installing a fuel tank apparatus on a fueltank, said fuel tank including a hydrocarbon impermeable barrier layer,said fuel tank apparatus including an inlet neck, a valve housingpositioned at least partially in a valve chamber defined by said inletneck, a valve positioned in said valve housing, and a retainer coupledto said valve housing for engaging said inlet neck to retain said valvehousing in said chamber without interrupting said hydrocarbonimpermeable barrier layer of said tank, said method including the stepsof: forming said valve housing; positioning said valve in said valvehousing; providing said retainer on said valve housing for engagementwith said inlet neck; forming said inlet neck over said retainer of saidvalve housing; and engaging said inlet neck with said fuel tank withoutinterrupting said hydrocarbon impermeable barrier layer of said tank, toposition said valve in communication with said fuel tank.
 22. The methodas set forth in claim 21 , further comprising the step of providingoutwardly extending projections on an exterior surface of said valvehousing, providing means for limiting the inward range of travel of thecartridge in the valve chamber, and inserting said valve housing intosaid valve chamber.
 23. The method as set forth in claim 22 , furthercomprising the step of forming said inlet neck of a material compatiblefor welding to said fuel tank.
 24. A method of installing a fuel tankapparatus on a fuel tank, said fuel tank being formed of a plasticsmaterial, said fuel tank apparatus including an inlet neck defining avalve chamber, a valve housing positioned at least partially in saidvalve chamber, a valve at least partially retained in said valvehousing, and a retainer coupled to said valve housing for engaging saidinlet neck to retain said valve housing in said valve chamber, saidmethod including the steps of: providing said valve housing; positioningsaid valve in said valve housing; providing said retainer on said valvehousing for engagement with said inlet neck; forming said inlet neckover said retainer of said valve housing; and attaching said inlet neckto said fuel tank to position said valve in communication with said fueltank.